Molloy's career on hold

Star football defender unlikely to figure at all this year

Graeme Molloy is unlikely to be seen in a Wexford football jersey this summer as his knee problem persists

Graeme Molloy's outstanding service to both club and county has come at a severe cost as his career lies very much in the balance.

Wexford's outstanding defender has been ruled out of the June 14 opening round provincial football championship outing with the winners of Louth and Westmeath in either Innovate Wexford Park or Cusack Park, Mullingar, and such is the extent of his injury that his entire career is now very much on hold.

Having failed to take any part in the league campaign, while also missing out on St. James' opening two round games in the Senior football championship, it now appears very much as if the full-back is being ruled out of contention for the 2015 season.

Molloy underwent surgery on a cartilage problem towards the end of last season, but following some complications his rehab has not been progressing according to plan. Following surgery he has had holes drilled in both the top and bottom bones of the knee in the hope that it would provide body mass as a cushion for the knee.

Now the player is confined just to light gym work but, given the nature of the problem and the discomfort that follows this, Molloy's career is now very much on hold.

Wexford manager David Power said: 'I cannot put a timeframe on it. His progress has been slow but given the nature of his injury and his rehab problems I can say he is out for this season. His fitness levels at this stage would be low, so with the injury it's now very much long term'.

With Molloy's career now in real doubt, there's better news concerning Conor Carty, who is progressing satisfactorily in his rehab following a cruciate knee operation last summer. Still, it's doubtful that he will make the opening round of the championship as he has not yet figured with his club, Castletown.

Meanwhile Wexford football has received a much-needed boost as long-serving defender, Brian Malone, has put to bed rumours of his impending retirement from the inter-county scene.

When contacted on Monday morning, he said: 'that's the first I've heard of it. I've been concentrating on my club's (Shelmaliers) opening two championship rounds. We had two good wins but I've not been looking ahead yet to the provincial test.

'But mention of retirement is what it is, a rumour. I will put the club games behind me and then prepare for the first round game against Louth or Westmeath. There's no question of me retiring. Maybe some would like me to retire, but that's not the case.'

The concerns surrounding Lee Chin on the hurling front have also abated. The outstanding young talent received a wrist injury in Sarsfields' opening club championship defeat to Fethard.

While there was growing concern as to the extent of the injury, the problem is no way as bad as first feared, and he will be available for the championship opener on June 7 against the round robin runners-up.

While Chin was restricted to a role in the full-forward line for Sarsfields in Sunday's loss to Shelmaliers, he still managed to put 2-2 on the scoreboard.